They didn't come much more eccentric than Mark Gillespie. Best known for his 1980 debut album 'Only Human', the one-time Melbourne singer-songwriter refused to play the music industry game. Instead of touring behind that record or giving interviews, he travelled through Asia. His genre-hopping songs, meanwhile, indulged in weird arrangements and dark, philosophical lyrics. Before turning to music, Gillespie had written short stories and poetry, co-founded the Aussie-centric Outback Press, and done a six-year architecture degree at Melbourne Uni.
Gillespie's first recordings appeared on a various artist's compilation called 'The Debutantes', released by the Oz label in 1977. The compilation featured two of his tracks, ''I'm A Kite (Won't You Be My Hurricane)'' and ''The Joke's On You''. Gillespie's big break was just around the corner. He signed to the Festival label and released the single ''Coming Back For More'' in 1979 on the Infinity imprint. It was this release and his new label that scored Mark support slots for Tom Waits, Rodriguez and Maria Muldaur on their respective national tours of Australia. Gillespie and his touring band, Broderick Smith (ex The Dingos), Stephen Cooney (ex Phil Manning Band), Clive Harrison (ex Avalanche), Trevor Courtney (ex Skylight), Stewart Watson, and Pat and Gay L'Nane showed the rest of the nation the heart-felt performances Melbourne fans had been enjoying for the past few years.
The stage was set and Mark Gillespie, now signed to EMI, went into the studio with Joe Creighton, Mark Meyer, Ross Hannaford, Rex Bullen, Lisa Bade and a swag of other guest artists (some of whom went on to enjoy national stardom) to record his debut long player 'Only Human'. Four singles and countless performances to his expanding appreciative audience, Gillespie needed a break. He traveled throughout Asia for a year or so before heading back to record the follow-up to 'Only Human'.
Gillespie's first recordings appeared on a various artist's compilation called 'The Debutantes', released by the Oz label in 1977. The compilation featured two of his tracks, ''I'm A Kite (Won't You Be My Hurricane)'' and ''The Joke's On You''. Gillespie's big break was just around the corner. He signed to the Festival label and released the single ''Coming Back For More'' in 1979 on the Infinity imprint. It was this release and his new label that scored Mark support slots for Tom Waits, Rodriguez and Maria Muldaur on their respective national tours of Australia. Gillespie and his touring band, Broderick Smith (ex The Dingos), Stephen Cooney (ex Phil Manning Band), Clive Harrison (ex Avalanche), Trevor Courtney (ex Skylight), Stewart Watson, and Pat and Gay L'Nane showed the rest of the nation the heart-felt performances Melbourne fans had been enjoying for the past few years.
The stage was set and Mark Gillespie, now signed to EMI, went into the studio with Joe Creighton, Mark Meyer, Ross Hannaford, Rex Bullen, Lisa Bade and a swag of other guest artists (some of whom went on to enjoy national stardom) to record his debut long player 'Only Human'. Four singles and countless performances to his expanding appreciative audience, Gillespie needed a break. He traveled throughout Asia for a year or so before heading back to record the follow-up to 'Only Human'.
In 1982 his second album 'Sweet Nothing' was released on Glenn Wheatley's label through EMI. The album featured friends from his debut, Ross Hannaford, Mark Meyer and Lisa Bade, with the addition of saxophonist Andrew Thompson, bassist Tim Partridge, and Gary Lyon (not the ex-AFL player) and Nikki Nicholls on backing vocals. The album produced three singles, ''Nothing Special'', ''Traveller in the Night'', and ''Night and Day''. On the Melbourne charts Gillespie's second album reached Number 9, but more importantly, it peaked at Number 32 on the national charts, the first time a Mark Gillespie release had featured in the national Top 40. Fans and critics alike lauded his releases and Gillespie was fast becoming recognised as Australia's premier songwriter. He followed up the success of 'Sweet Nothing' with his third album, a self-titled effort in 1983 that soon became more widely known as 'Ring of Truth' after the lead single. ''You'' and ''Letting Go'' were the other singles from the album that featured ex-Bee Gees and Groove drummer, Geoff Bridgeford and vocalist Renee Geyer.
Mark Gillespie, for whatever reason, had had enough. He returned to Asia where he set up an orphanage in Bangladesh, a gesture that was indicative of the heart and soul of Mark Gillespie. In the mean time Glenn Wheatley and EMI made the most of their signing when they released 'Best of Mark Gillespie (Small Mercies)' in 1985. It appeared Gillespie's contribution to Australian music was done when nothing was heard from him until 1992 when he returned to Australia to record and release 'Flame' in 1992. At this time he also released the CD single ''Long Time'' and EP 'Don't Wait'. Old friends and musicians who'd long admired Gillespie's work gathered to record these comeback efforts. The artists involved included Joe Creighton and Ross Hannaford, along with ex-Mondo Rock keys man James Black, John Farnham band drummer Angus Burchill, ex-Aussie Crawl and Kevin Borich Express drummer John Watson, former Stephen Cummings Band guitarist Shane O'Mara, and Deborah Conway Band bassist Bill McDonald, among others. Since 1992 Gillespie had no further involvement in the music industry. Mark Gillespie died in 2021.
References
http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/
Mark Gillespie, for whatever reason, had had enough. He returned to Asia where he set up an orphanage in Bangladesh, a gesture that was indicative of the heart and soul of Mark Gillespie. In the mean time Glenn Wheatley and EMI made the most of their signing when they released 'Best of Mark Gillespie (Small Mercies)' in 1985. It appeared Gillespie's contribution to Australian music was done when nothing was heard from him until 1992 when he returned to Australia to record and release 'Flame' in 1992. At this time he also released the CD single ''Long Time'' and EP 'Don't Wait'. Old friends and musicians who'd long admired Gillespie's work gathered to record these comeback efforts. The artists involved included Joe Creighton and Ross Hannaford, along with ex-Mondo Rock keys man James Black, John Farnham band drummer Angus Burchill, ex-Aussie Crawl and Kevin Borich Express drummer John Watson, former Stephen Cummings Band guitarist Shane O'Mara, and Deborah Conway Band bassist Bill McDonald, among others. Since 1992 Gillespie had no further involvement in the music industry. Mark Gillespie died in 2021.
SINGLES
Nothing Special
| 29 MAR '82 | #46 |
References
http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/
A great talent unknown to most. I saw him a couple of times in Melbourne pubs and also supporting Joe Cocker at the Palais in 1982.
ReplyDeletelove this guy's music super
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